Date: Tue, 21 May 1996 16:15:23 +0200 
     From: Frank Brinkhuis (frankbri@PI.NET) 
     Subject: UNIVERSAL FREQUENCIES


Got HNIA's 'Universal Frequencies' in the mail, this morning, from the 4AD
Subscription Service. People in the UK must have got it on Saturday or
Monday already. With a release date of May the 28th, this is the first
release I get from the 4AD Subscr. Serv. before it's in the shops. Thanks to
the new 4AD mailorder guy Tim, I think!!!

7" AD 6007 'Universal Frequencies'
A. 'Beech Boys'
B. ''Summer Of E.S.P.'

CD BAD 6007 CD 'Universal Frequencies'
1. 'Beech Boys'
2. 'Up Your Legs Forever'
3. 'Summer Of E.S.P.'
4. 'Your Word Against Mine'
5. ???

'Beech Boys' is indeed very Beach Boys (wonderful track!) and 'Summer Of
E.S.P.' is very ESP Summer, with some ESP Family tossed in. 'Up Your Legs
Forever' is more like the stuff on HIIYH, while 'Your Word Against Mine' is
somewhere between HIIYH and MBM. According to the tracklist on the back of
the CD digikak, there must be a 5th track to tagged on, but I've not been
able yet to find out where the 4th track ends and the 5th track starts. Or
is it a joke, maybe?

The artwork is excellent. The front cover looks a bit like a 60's/70's jazz
record sleeve, and v23 have designed a nice new Blue Note-ish HNIA logo.
I wonder who the freshly married couple on the back are. Oh, and the
tracklist of 'Stars On ESP (CAD 6010) is already on the inside panel of the
didgipak.
The tray, with a pic. of Warren Defever under the hole, is orange, and the
orange H of HNIA on the inside panel is extra larger, so they support
Holland during the European Championships next month in England. Great!

Frank

P.S. this being a 7" + CD-EP release, I assume there's a promo-only 12"
version too.
+++++++++++++++++++
Frank Brinkhuis
frankbri@pop.pi.net
+++++++++++++++++++


     Date: Sat, 25 May 1996 11:40:04 EDT 
     From: Dez (100702.123@COMPUSERVE.COM) 
     Subject: U Frequencies & other reviews


Hi all, some splendid new releases to report on - a heavy days shopping to be
sure.

HNIA - Universal Frequencies
It's been reviewed to death already here, but I'd like to stick my comments in
anyway. Universal Frequencies itself is a brilliant pastiche of Brian Wilson at
the peak of his powers. The bassline and theremin (or theremin impression) are
identical to Good Vibrations - in fact I can't work out whether it's a
painstaking recreation, or a sample from one of the countless Good Vibes
out-takes that exist. If it wasn't done so well, I would have thought it rather
pointless. Of course, the vocals were never going to be a patch on what the
Beach Boys were capable of - and to his credit, Warren hasn't really attempted
to do a recreation there. But when the originals have stooped so low as to
murdering past glories in the company of Status Quo, it's a joy to hear
something that captures their very essence. The other tracks are more
traditional HNIA territroy. Fine, but not breathtaking. I do like the anarchical
medley / melee of tunes that comprise track four on the CD. 4AD release of the
year so far.